Rocker reclining hardware

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a blocking mechanism useful in a rocker recliner chair, having spring bias means to assist in preventing relative motion in one direction between a back moving link and a main mounting bracket to preclude opening up for reclining movement of the chair linkage mechanism while the chair is being rocked in a rearward direction.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,912,327 Johnson Oct. 14, 1975 [54] ROCKER RECLINING HARDWARE 3,243,226 3/1966 Katz 297/85 [75] Inventor: Warren F. Johnson, Northville,

Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell [73] Assignee: Mohasco Corporation, Amsterdam, Attorney, Agent or F p Flanagan [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] App]. No.: 513,692

. The invention discloses a blocking mechanism useful [52 US. Cl. 297/272; 297/85; 297/270; in a rocker recliner chair, having Spring bias means to 297/D[G 7 assist in preventing relative motion in one direction 51 lm. cm A47C 3/02 between a back moving link and a main mounting [58] Field of Search 297/85, 261, 272, 270, bracket to preclude Opening up for reclining move- 297/DlG 7 ment of the chair linkage mechanism while the chair is being rocked in a rearward direction. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Whiteford 297/85 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure US, Patent Oct. 14, 1975 3,912,327

ROCKER RECLINING HARDWARE The instant invention relates to rocker recliner mechanisms and more particularly to that portion of the mechanism which serves to prevent reclining movement of the linkage mechanism when the chair is being rocked rearwardly.

It is old in the art to provide rocker recliner chairs having blocking mechanisms which prevent various modes of operation. For example, means have previously been provided to prevent rocking motion of the chair when the chair is reclined and means have been provided to prevent reclining motion of the chair when the chair is rocked.

By this invention I have provided an improved mechanism which has as its primary object the provision of a novel and improved means to prevent reclining movement of the chair mechanism when the chair is rocked rearwardly.

This primary objection as well as other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a rocker-recliner illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows what may be termed a conventional platform rocker-recliner mechanism. The view of FIG. 1 is in a view from approximately the center line of the chair looking towards that side of the chair which would be at the right side of an occupant seated therein.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the Figure shows the mechanism located at one side of the chair, that is, the right side as hereinabove described and it will be understood that at the left side of the chair there would be a corresponding mechanism which would be in all respects identical to the mechanism at the right side of the chair, except that the mechanism at the left side of the chair may be modified as necessary to accommodate its attachment to such left side. i

In the structure of FIG. 1 which, as above mentioned, shows a conventional platform rocker-recliner there is the usual platform structure 12 supporting upwardly thereof a suitably operatively connected rockable chassis 13 having rocker cams 13a and side frame members interconnected by stretchers 13b. The side frame member supports a main mounting bracket 15. A seat mounting bracket 16 is pivotally carried on forward and rear carrier links 18 and 20, respectively, which may be operatively connected to the main mounting bracket 15 in any number of ways as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the forward and rear carrier links may be directly pivotally connected to the main mounting bracket 15 or intermediate links may be interposed therebetween such that said links 18 and 20, in turn, will be suitably operatively connected to the main mounting bracket 15. For a fuller disclosure of how the seat mounting bracket 16 may be operatively connected to the main mounting bracket reference may be had to Crawford US. Pat. No. 3,475,05 1, Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,257, Cycowicz U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,601 and Flanagan et al. US. Pat. No. 3,638,995.

Pivotally attached to the seat mounting bracket at its rearward end, is a back mounting link 21 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to a rear stop link 22. The rear stop link 22 is somewhat L-shaped and is pivoted at its angle 23 to the main mounting bracket 15. At its lower rearward end the rear stop link 22 is pivotally connected to a toggle link 30 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to an angle shaped blocker link 32. The angle shaped blocker link 32 is, in turn, at its forward end pivotally attached to the main mounting bracket 15. At its lower, rearward end the blocking link carries a skid member 38 which, when the chair is in the normal upright position, may overly, in close proximity thereto, or rest lightly on, a spring member 42.

For purposes of the description that follows, suffice it to say that the structure of FIG. 1 shows the mechanism in its normal upright sitting position from whence it can be moved into reclining position or may be operated in a rocking mode, all as hereto well known in the art. It is necessary in a chair of the type shown herein to allow clockwise rotational movement of the back stop link 22 about its pivotal connection with the main mounting bracket 15 in order to have the chair recline, that is, in order to have the seat mounting link 16 move rearwardly atop its forward and rearward carrier links and thereby allow the back mounting link to move rearwardly. Since, in rocking the chair the occupant of the chair would normally exert rearward pressure on the back, there is a tendency in chairs of this type for the back mounting link to move somewhat rearward and cause the chair to open slightly during rocking movement.

In operation, the present invention precludes such opening up motion of the chair since as the chair is rocked rearwardly, the skid member 38 will be in, or almost instantaneously come into, contact with the spring member 42 so that when the chair is rocked the skid member 38 will press down on the springs, causing the springs to deflect. Deflection of the springs will, of course, permit easy rocking but at the same time the spring deflection will create sufficient pressure on the toggle linkage to block the chair in a non-reclining position. This is accomplished by the spring member tending to apply to the blocker link 32 a counterclockwise force thereby pushing the toggle link by means of the connection between the angle portion of the blocker link and the toggle link, to exert a counterclockwise force on the back stop link 22 and prevent any clockwise rotation of the said stop link 22, thus blocking opening up movement of the chair.

The spring member 42, and again it will be remembered that a spring member is provided at each side of the base, one to accommodate the skid member 38 and another to accommodate the skid member associated with the linkage mechanism at the side of the chair opposite from that shown in FIG. 1, may be made of reinforced plastic. In the instant embodiment Ihave received satisfactory results from utilizing a spring member measuring approximately one and five sixtenths inches by four and one half inches. These are made of 3M Scotchply brand reinforced plastic. The members are 0.050 inches thick and they are 5 ply springs. The spring member 42 may have a fabric pad 43 on its upper surface which will serve to reducenoise emanating from the contact between the skid member 38 and the spring member 42.

It will thus be appreciated that by the present invention I have designed a chair wherein the rocking action of the chair by means of the spring member acting on and through the skid member serves to enhance and aid the blocking of the chair in its normal upright sitting non-reclined position while the chair is being rocked rearwardly.

Although a preferred embodiment of the instant invention has been described herein, it will be appreciated that a wide latitude of modification, substitution, and change is intended in the foregoing. Further, instances may arise wherein some features of the invention may be employed although other features will not be used. Thus, it is appropriate and intended that the appended claims be broadly construed keeping in mind the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by letters patent is:

l. A blocking mechanism to block reclining movement in a reclining chair including a first means carried on a rockable portion of said chairand second means carried on a base portion of said chair, wherein the means carried on the base portion is a spring means mounted on and wholly supported by said base.

2. The invention of claim '1 wherein said spring means is a substantially planar spring member.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said spring means extends rearwardly of said base member.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the means carried on the rockable portion of said chair includes a toggle linkage.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said toggle linkage is operatively engaged by said spring means during rocking motion of said chair. 

1. A blocking mechanism to block reclining movement in a reclining chair including a first means carried on a rockable portion of said chair and second means carried on a base portion of said chair, wherein the means carried on the base portion is a spring means mounted on and wholly supported by said base.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spring means is a substantially planar spring member.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said spring means extends rearwardly of said base member.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the means carried on the rockable portion of said chair includes a toggle linkage.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said toggle linkage is operatively engaged by said spring means during rocking motion of said chair. 